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Year IV - Number 188

20 December 2011

Marist News Marist Brothers - General House - Rome

188

Solidarity, education and social development SED and FMSI sign an agreement of co-operation

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n the 1st of December, in Madrid, SED and FMSI signed an agreement of co-operation.

The agreement was drawn up by FMSI and proposed last May to the Provinces and Marist solidarity organizations for the purpose of mutual support in the work for needy children and promotion of their rights.

After the six Provinces who joined immediately, SED is the first Marist NGO to subscribe to this agreement.

This establishes the bases for reciprocal collaboration and, more specifically, spells out in twelve points the support that the Marist corporate bodies would be able to provide for FMSI, and, in eleven points, the services FMSI would be able to offer the Provinces and Marist corporations to help them implement the call of the XXI General Chapter “to become experts in the protection and promotion of the rights of children� and

to take concrete steps in this direction. In this matter, in fact, apart from supporting solidarity projects, FMSI would be able to place at the service of the Institute the experienced gained by its personnel in working in the United Nations in Geneva and its potential as a Corporate body with consultative status with the Economic and

The mission and its paths Today we open our spaces for a little restructuring of the format of Marist News. This innovation is in line with the updating carried out on the web site. The two instruments of communication journey in harmony. The presentation changes and some new contents have been added, but the frequency remains the same. Marist News will be sent out each week.

The title of the new space is intended to record, in brief news flashes, week after week, the history of the Marist mission in the world. We want to give account of the journeys made by Br Superior General, his Council and the members of the General Administration to animate the mission of the Institute. They leave Rome, travel all over the world and return to the General House. Day after day, voyage after voyage, they make visible the map of the Marist mission in world geography. We will recall their departures and returns. Thus, a new window is opening in our bulletin of information to let you know the dates for the beginning of the activities entrusted to them and the places they are visiting.

Marist News Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

The co-operation agreement between SED and FMSI was signed during a meeting held in Madrid, at the headquarters of SED. In the course of the meeting, the two organizations shared information and discussed suggestions for work, singling out concrete possi-

Year IV - Number 180

bilities of collaboration in co-financing projects in Malawi and for Haiti, development of animation material on children’s rights, exchange of information to make best use of the respective means of communication and to improve their own visibility.

Meetings between FMSI and SED are now a regular thing and the two orga-

nizations meet once a year in Madrid and Rome alternatively. Despite their different nature and vocation (one International and centred on children’s rights, the other typically Spanish and devoted principally to education for solidarity), they have converging areas of activity in virtue of their common belonging to the Marist world of solidarity, education and social development.

Brother Alain Delorme presents another volume of biographies “Marvellous Companions of Marcellin Champagnat”

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he book “Marvellous Companions of Marcellin Champagnat” has just been published.

The author is Brother Alain Delorme, and this book is a companion of his first volume which appeared in 2009 under the title: “Our First Brothers.

Marvellous companions of Marcellin”. The two works are parallel and complementary.

Following on the success of the first volume, Brother Alain has extended the presentation of the “lives of Marist Brothers, many of whom knew Father Champagnat personally”, which continue to be an inspiration

for living the charism and mission in the world of today. The book treats of 17 inspiring biographies which put us in touch with the roots of the Institute. Each concludes with a section entitled “Praying with…” in which Br Alain helps us enter into prayer with one of the Brothers. “If it is true that a tree lives through its roots, our acquaintance with those who, in the past, contributed to the strengthening and growth of the Institute of the Little Brothers of Mary, might enlighten our way, as we prepare to celebrate the bicentennial of its foundation”, as he writes in the brief introduction.

Floods in the Philippines Solidarity with the people afflicted

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rom the news received via the communications media and the Brothers with regard to the recent floods in the Philippines, we know that, at present, there are more than 650 dead, 800 missing and more than 100,000 persons affected by the disaster. We have heard that neither the Marist Brothers nor their works have been affected, except for the house of the family of a Brother.

We express our solidarity with the Filipino people.

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These two works provide an excellent means for arousing among the Brothers, and the laity as well, an interest in learning more about the beginning of the work of God and men in the birth and growth of the life of Brothers who contributed to the development of our religious family.

The work “Marvellous Companions of Marcellin Champagnat” has been printed in Rome in English, Spanish and French. The Portuguese edition will be published in Brasil in 2012.

Marist News

20 December 2011

Golden Jubilee of the Marist School of Kumamoto Japon - News from Br Ramón Bereicua Basauri

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he Marist school of Kumamoto, Japan, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation on 8 October 2011. Bro Ramón Bereicua has just sent to Rome a report of all the activities organized for this great occasion.

On October 8th, splendid and unique events were held in Kumamoto to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Marist Kumamoto.

In the morning, special cultural performances were held in the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater and Concert Hall, sponsored by prominent old boys and attended by the whole school: a classic concert by the Kumamoto Symphony Orchestra and a Japanese Calligraphy lecture delivered by the famous artist Takeda Souun who is also an Old Boy. The cultural event was preceded by a prayerful Liturgy of the Word attended by distinguished guests, the governor of the prefecture, municipal authorities and representatives of many schools.

In the midst of it all, I felt like being on Mount Tabor… DEO GRATIAS. The School Board used the occasion to remodel and beautify the whole school, topping it all with a jewel of a chapel newly built and dedicated to our founder, Saint Marcellin Champagnat.

In the evening, over 700 guests, including over four hundred Old Boys, gathered at the Kumamoto Castle Hotel for a succulent and delicious meal accompanied by lively music.

The Kumamoto Marist School is in good OB hands and the local Church is also deeply involved.

I am sure that in the year 2161, we will

be able to watch from our celestial thrones in heaven a glittering and historical BICENTENNIAL.

Hope springs eternal!

Mission Ad Gentes Scholasticate of Guadalajara – Mexico

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n 14 November, we welcomed Br Teófilo Minga to the community of the Scholasticate. The rhythm of our daily activities changed a little to have a meeting with him. In a simple and spontaneous manner, Br Teófilo spoke to us about the Marist mission at the international level, and the history and origin of the « Ad Gentes » project.

Br Teófilo then spoke about the present situation. Finally, we had time

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to pose our questions and requests.

This visit has allowed us to know our Marist family a little better, in its missionary dimension.

Marist News

Year IV - Number 180

78th Half-year Assembly of the Union of Superior Generals New evangelisation in the context of consecrated life

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r. Emili Turú, Superior General, participated in this Halfyear Assembly of the Union of Superior Generals, which was held from November 23rd to 25th, 2011 at the Salesianum in Rome.

About 130 Superior Generals from male religious Orders and Congregations, gathered to continue reflection on the Theological Seminar held in February 2011 and already begun at the second halfyear assembly in May this year, entitled “Transmitting the Faith”.

lity and to the charism.He concluded with three proposals: being committed to “leading the change,” animating local communities, which are focusing only on the present; undertaking administration and government as forms of group work; having confidence in God and in ones’ confreres.

The conclusions of the half-year assembly of the USG were based on the topic “New Evangelisation” and how this is intertwined with “Transmitting the Faith”.The reflections by Fr. Salvatore Currò, CSJ, on “New evangelisation in the context of consecrated life” suggest three possible areas of research:evangelisation in itself, this present time and the apostolic contribution that consecrated life can offer.

The day began with an opening prayer and welcome by the Rector Major, Fr. Pascual Chávez, Salesian, as President of the USG; he started with the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans: “I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith” (1,16).Fr. Chávez pointed out the characteristics of the “new evangelisation” to which the Church, including the religious, are called.He spoke about the need to gather the “seeds of the word”, that is to say, whatever is beautiful and true in today’s world opens the way to God; he also spoke about the need for new evangelisers, able to make a proclamation that is “more explicit and more disinterested”.“In the end, what matters is not that mankind today accepts our teaching or our institutions, but that it listens to the Son of God and his Gospel”, he concluded.

Evangelisation was considered from different perspectives.

Fr. Eamon Fitzgerald, a Trappist, reflected on the “Lineamenta” for the XIII ordinary general assembly of the Synod, relating them to the present day situation of the monasticcontemplative life.

Fr. Bruno Cadore, a Dominican, briefly illustrated four ways by which the mendicant orders, remaining faithful to their origins, can collaborate in the evangelising mission of the mendicants: wandering, begging, meeting and studying.

Fr. Enrique Sánchez, Combonian, linked the meaning of evangelisation with bearing witness.He recalled some contributions that the missionary congregations can make: poverty, the prophetic role, the freshness of the faith and a joyful spirituality.

Fr. Salvatore Currò, from the Congregation of St. Joseph (CSJ), summarised the reflections of the USG at the previous Assembly:from the recognised need to have a theology for consecrated life, to the various sensitivities which are maturing among the religious, from the spiritual point of view, as well as fraternal communion and apostolic mission.

Lastly, the USG General Assembly elected the representatives at the Synod of Bishops to be held in October 2012: Fr. Mario Aldegani, CSJ, then reflected on some parables in Abella Batlle Josep Maria, CMF; Aldegani Mario, CSJ; Cadoré the Gospel of Matthew, drawing from them some teaching Bruno, OP; Chávez Villanueva Pascual, SDB; Jöhri Mauro, OFMCap.; Nicolás Adolfo, SI; useful to the service of authority Rodríguez Carballo José, OFM; and animation by the Superiors Marist NEWS N.º 188 – Year IV – 20 December 2011 Rodríguez E. Alvaro, FSC; Tasand the Councils in their relevant ca Marco, OFMConv.; Turú Emili, communities.He proposed some Director Redaction and Administration FMS.Substitutes: Gay G. Gregory, challenges about giving daily atBr. AMEstaún Piazzale Marcellino Champagnat, 2 C.P. 10250 – 00144 ROMA CM; Prevost Robert OSA. tention to the Word of God, to Production E-mail: publica@fms.it people and to events, to ecclesiaMr. Luiz da Rosa web: www. champagnat.org Edit Marist Brother's Institute - General House – Rome

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